PSK Whirlpool-Author continental in 2010

The Czech PSK Whirlpool-Author is returning to continental status following their inability to secure additional sponsorship for next year. The former team of Danilo Hondo had their sights set on remaining Pro-Continental, but lacked the funds to continue at the sport's second highest level.

"We wanted to ride the ProTour races, but we would need to have the biological passport and ask for a wild card. That would cost us 65,000 Euro and there was no certainty that we would get a wild card," explained team manager Vladimir Vavra to Sport.cz.

The team's two star riders, Hondo and Patrick Sinkewitz are reported to be leaving the Czech team. Hondo has confirmed his move to Alessandro Petacchi’s Lampre team, while the future of Sinkewitz is still unknown. The strong duo accounted for six of the team's nine wins in 2009.

Vavra hopes the team will return to Pro-Continental status in 2011 since they have managed to keep their title sponsors on board. The team has raced in the second division the past two years.